Affordable Retro Cars You Should Buy Now

1970s Mercedes SL

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Credit: Alamy

A 1970s Mercedes SL just might be the perfect car to cruise Rodeo Drive in or drive to the country club for a leisurely lunch. This two-seater convertible came standard with both a hardtop and soft-top for the best of both worlds.

The Mercedes SL doesn't have as much raw performance power as some of the other cars on this list, but it makes up for it in the refinement department. There's a lot to like about the SL's aesthetics, including a good amount of chrome and hubcaps that match the car's body color.

While Jeff Gwynn advises that European cars like the Mercedes SL can be much more expensive to fix than American classics, the car itself is relatively affordable. A quick scan of popular auto reselling sites showed that great looking examples go for between $8,000 and $12,000.